SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Oct. 19) – Senior
Lindsie Galbreath (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) recorded her first career multi-goal game on Wednesday afternoon, as the California (PA) women's soccer team earned a 3-1 victory at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at Mihalik-Thomson Stadium.
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 5-7-2 this season with a 5-6-2 mark in league play. Cal also earned its first road victory in the series at Slippery Rock since 2012 and has posted its winningest season since the 2015 campaign. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 5-3-8 overall behind a 4-3-7 record in divisional action.
Galbreath tallied a pair of goals on three shots in the victory. She now leads the team with a career-high five goals this season, all in the last eight games. Galbreath is only the second player in the last seven years to score at least five goals in a season.
Cal took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Galbreath scored her initial goal of the game. The Rock countered at the 11:50-mark when Morgan Sarver tied the score at 1-1 following a double assist. Sarver placed another shot on net in the 17th minute that saved by sophomore goalkeeper
Emily Ouimet (Berwick, Pa./Berwick). The Vulcans reclaimed the lead at the 30:08-mark with an unassisted goal by Galbreath. Slippery Rock attempted to answer before the break with four shots in the final 12 minutes of the first half.
The Vulcans increased the lead to 3-1 on a rebound goal by senior
Claire Mercurio (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) in the 48th minute. Slippery Rock applied pressure over the next 10 minutes with four shots and two corner kicks and later sailed a pair of shot attempts wide in the 62nd minute. The teams both placed a shot attempt on goal in a span of just over 30 seconds in the 71st minute. In a span of five-plus minutes later in the game, The Rock registered five shot attempts with Ouimet making a pair of saves. Cal sealed the victory by controlling possession over the final two minutes, tallying a pair of shots and a corner kick.
Ouimet made seven saves in the victory while playing all 90 minutes. She has collected at least seven saves in four of the last five games and ranks second in the PSAC this year with 70 total saves.
Slippery Rock finished with a 23-8 shot advantage yet Cal converted three of six its shot attempts on goal. The Rock also posted a 6-2 edge in corner kicks, including five in the second half.
The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Saturday, Oct. 22, when they host Gannon on Homecoming at 12 p.m.
